"I think every time they hire a new director I'm rumoured to be doing it. I'd love to make a Bond film at some point and I think those producers — Barbara and Michael (Broccoli and G Wilson) — they do a tremendous job and Sam Mendes has done a terrific job the last couple of films, so they don't particularly need me.

"But I've always been inspired by the films and would love to do one someday," he said.